In a further blow to Zimbabwe's reputation as a safe destination for cricket tours, it has emerged that Henry Olonga, the Test fast bowler, was recently kidnapped at gunpoint from the centre of Harare by thieves attempting to steal his car. According to reports in Monday's edition of London's Times newspaper, Olonga, 25, was dropping off his girlfriend on the night of April 4, when he was accosted by four men, one of them armed with a gun, another wielding a knife. Olonga was threatened with his life, while his girlfriend was punched and had her handbag stolen.

"They put him in his car and drove 25km out of town," said an unnamed Zimbabwean cricketer, confirming that the incident had taken place. "A skirmish broke out in the car. Henry didn't realise it at the time, but he was cut on the shoulder-blade. They found the car the next day with a bullet-hole in the tailgate."

Olonga was eventually abandoned by the roadside, and was picked up by the emergency services. The thieves had made off with his sponsored Nissan 4x4, and had slashed the tyres on their original vehicle.

The Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) were keen to play the incident down. Zimbabwe is due to host six World Cup matches next year, but their protestations that Zimbabwe is a safe venue were dealt a blow by last month's cancellation of Australia's scheduled Test and one-day tour.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd